| | |  | Last Updated: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 |  | | | Crash Course in Responsible Gambling
- Tuesday, 18 Oct 2005
Harvard Medical School initiated a new casino employee education program sponsored by some of the biggest gambling corporations in the US, including Las Vegas Sands, Boyd Gaming, Harah’s Entertainment and the MGM Mirage. From now on, Vegas casinos can send their employees to Harvard for the purpose of attending a 2.5 day crash course on the subject of responsible gambling. During the seminar the employees will receive training in detecting and treating a gambling addiction among customers and fellow casino employers.
Andrew F. Abboud, an executive who works at the Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas says, “They (gambling resorts) want to know how they can help people learn more responsible behavior”. Many people are skeptic with regards to the new initiative taken by Vegas casinos to promote responsible gambling. It would appear that there s some kind of contradiction between the two. Why would the gambling industry advocate responsible gambling, when they have nothing to gain from it?
Also, how would you go about implementing responsible gambling at the casino? Can you honestly picture a casino employee going up to a high-roller who has just lost thousands of dollars playing the roulette, and cutting him off? Even though it’s quite commendable that the gambling industry would invest money in wanting to help those who suffer from a gambling addiction, it still remains to be seen what kind of practical implementations this new casino education program will have. | |
| |
|
